Demos Clinches Match as Leathernecks Split Double Dual

Leathernecks' six victories this spring are the most in five years

FORT WAYNE, IND. - The Western Illinois women's tennis team kicked off the final weekend of regular season play on Friday, April 17, as the Leathernecks played in a pair of duals. The Purple and Gold opened the day by taking on Fort Wayne in Summit League action before wrapping up play with a match against Indiana Tech. Western dropped its opener, 7-0, before rebounding to defeat Indiana Tech by a 4-3 decision. The split of Friday's double dual moves Western's record to 6-19 (0-6 Summit League), marking the most victories for the women's tennis program since 2010 where Western collected 11 dual victories.

Against the Mastodons, Western struggled out of the gate as they dropped a 7-0 decision. The duos of Courtney Lubbers/Jenna Wallace and Arianna Demos/Nicole Jones each dropped 8-1 doubles decisions at the No. 1 and 2 positions, respectively, while the No. 3 match was forfeited in favor of the Mastodons.

In singles play, it was all Fort Wayne as they swept every match in straight sets. Andriana Johnson fought in the first set before falling, 6-4. The momentum could not be converted into a second set victory as she fell, 6-1. Wallace dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision at the No. 3 spot as Western looked to gain ground on the hosts. Lubbers and Demos each fell 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 1 and 2 positions while Jones dropped a 6-0, 6-0 outcome at No. 4. The final singles match went the way of Fort Wayne via forfeit.

"We started slow in doubles play against Fort Wayne," said head coach Raquel Allen. "I was happy that we increased our intensity in singles play."

After a short break, the Leathernecks took on NAIA member Indiana Tech, where Allen coached at before accepting the WIU position. In a match that went down to the wire, the Leathernecks prevailed, 4-3, for its sixth victory of the season.

"In the afternoon we played much more aggressively and confidently," said Allen. "I was pleased with how we played in doubles. Arianna Demos had a solid day today and has been consistent at the No. 2 position for us all year. She had a great comeback victory where she won nine-straight points in the tiebreaker to clinch the match. To see one of our freshman doing something like that gives me hope for a great future in the years to come."

With the match knotted at three-all, Demos was called upon at the No. 2 spot to deliver. Demos took the first set by a 6-2 decision before dropping the second set, 6-4. In a 10-point tiebreaker to determine the outcome of the match, Demos ripped off nine consecutive points to win by a 10-1 score.

Elsewhere, the Leathernecks picked up singles victories from Lubbers and Wallace at the No. 1 and 3 positions, respectively. Lubbers cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 victory at the top spot while Wallace collected a 6-1, 6-0 victory in the No. 3 singles match. Jones and Johnson dropped straight-sets decisions in the other two singles matches that took place. Indiana Tech collected its third point of the afternoon via forfeit at the No. 6 spot.

Prior to singles action, Western secured the doubles point with a pair of victories at the top two positions. Lubbers and Wallace claimed a 8-4 victory at No. 1 doubles while Demos and Jones cruised to an 8-2 decision at No. 2 doubles. The third doubles match was forfeited by the Leathernecks with the doubles point already in hand.

The Leathernecks close out the regular season on Saturday, April 18, as they face South Dakota Sate in Summit League action. The dual, a neutral site contest to be held in Fort Wayne, is set for a 10 a.m. (CT) first serve.

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Players Mentioned

Andriana Johnson: Sophomore

Nicole Jones: Sophomore

Jenna Wallace: Sophomore

Courtney Lubbers: Freshman

Arianna Demos: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Andriana Johnson
: Sophomore

Nicole Jones
: Sophomore

Jenna Wallace
: Sophomore

Courtney Lubbers
: Freshman

Arianna Demos
: Freshman